BC | Canada 150 FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

British Columbia | Canada 150: Celebrating B.C. Communities and their Contributions to Canada

Q1: What is the B.C. | Canada 150 grant program?

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The B.C. | Canada 150 program was launched in January 2017 to mark the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation by recognizing B.C. communities and their contributions to the nation. Projects funded through the program will create meaningful legacies that honour the province’s unique and diverse histories, culture and heritage.

The B.C. | Canada 150 grant program is administered by the BC Museums Association with support from Heritage BC.

Q2: How many projects are receiving funding?

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More than 220 projects in 150 communities throughout British Columbia are receiving a total of $7.6 million in B.C. | Canada 150 grants.

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Over 400 eligible applications were put forward for assessment by a jury made up of representatives from the BC Museums Association and Heritage BC. Jury recommendations were provided to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development to determine the final list of recipients.

Q4: If my project was awarded a grant, when will I receive the funding?

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We expect to provide the grant money in May 2017 after we have received a signed copy of your Award Agreement. The award agreement will be mailed to successful grant recipients in early May.

Q5: Can I begin my project before I receive the grant money?

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Yes. You may begin your project before you receive the grant money. Please be aware that you will be required to report on how you spend the grant money. A final reporting document template will be provided to you in May 2017. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the BCMA program officer at (250) 356-5700 to discuss.

Q6: What is the appropriate way to acknowledge this grant award? How can I get approval to use the BC | Canada 150 logo?

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Recipients must acknowledge the financial assistance in all project publicity and documentation by displaying the joint “Supported by the Province of British Columbia” statement and the B.C. | Canada 150 logo.

If you are writing a press release or other promotional material, you should acknowledge support from the grant program as:

Supported by the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia | Canada 150: Celebrating B.C. Communities and their Contributions to Canada grant program.

PLEASE NOTE: Any promotional materials, exhibit signage, etc, that use the logo require approval from the GCPE office before going to print. The Application for Third Party Use form needs to be completed and submitted with your draft copies. This form can be accessed through the link above as well.

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In addition to your regular list of special guests, funders, supporters, and local politicians, you may also consider extending an invitation to the new Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture to thank her for the funding to support your project:

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Q9: In our award agreement letter, there was mention of an acknowledgement plaque. What is the status of the BC | Canada 150 plaque program?

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As of November 2017, the plaque program is on hold. More information will be distributed to grant recipients as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Anissa Paulsen at: grants@museumsassn.bc.ca.

Q10: Why didn’t I receive the full amount requested?

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As outlined in the grant guidelines, it was noted that successful applicants may receive less than the full amount requested. It was an objective of this grant program to support as many communities throughout B.C. as possible through numerous smaller grants.

Q11: What if I cannot complete the project with this lesser amount?

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Before you accept the funding you will have two options:

Work with the BCMA program officer to come up with a new plan for a phased-approach to your overall project, or

Choose not to accept the money.

We are committed to working with grant recipients to ensure the money can be used toward its original intended purposes while also adhering to the March 1, 2018 deadline outlined within the grant program guidelines.

Q12: What if I have trouble completing the project before the deadline of March 1, 2018?

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Please be aware that the BC Museums Association program officer is committed to working collaboratively with each grant award recipient to ensure all projects meet the project completion deadline of March 1, 2018.

Please do not hesitate to contact the BCMA program officer immediately if any complications arise. The BCMA is committed to working with you and to help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise in order for your organization to be able to satisfy all of the requirements of the program.

Q13: What if my organization did not receive funding through this grant program? Will there be another grant program opportunity next year?

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The Government of British Columbia created this grant program as an investment in heritage and culture during the 150th year of Canada’s Confederacy. There are no plans to offer this program next year.

Q14: What other funding opportunities are available for my project / organization?

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Due to the high demand of requests, not every project was able to receive funding. We hope you will consider applying to other grant programs to support your project, for example:

$10M for the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th, through Community Foundations of Canada. These micro-grants are seeded by the Government of Canada, and matched and delivered locally by Canada’s 191 community foundations. Many B.C. foundations are participating. Intake periods and deadlines vary; several are ongoing.

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The BCMA is administering the grant program on behalf of the Province. The BCMA worked with Heritage BC on the application intake and communicated with all applicants before, during and after the program intake. The BCMA also organized the adjudication process and helped to facilitate the jury meetings. Representatives from the BCMA and Heritage BC participated in the juries. The BCMA was also responsible for compiling the jury decisions and presenting a list of recommendations to the Province.

The BCMA will continue to work with grant recipients throughout the year and provide support as organizations proceed with their projects.

Q16: What is the role of Heritage BC?

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Heritage BC played a key role in promoting this grant among heritage sites across the Province and assisting with the adjudication. Heritage BC will offer support for the ongoing delivery of the grant program and act as a resource for grant recipients who are completing heritage conservation projects.

The BC Museums Association Secretariat is located on the traditional lands of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.
We are grateful for the opportunity to live and learn here in mutual respect and appreciation.

Our Sponsors

We gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the Royal BC Museum in providing a home for the BCMA secretariat.